In this episode, we sit down with John Mikulec, founder and CEO of Gameday Hospitality, to unpack his journey from building cornhole boards in his parents’ garage to leading one of the most innovative tailgate production companies in the country. John walks us through how he bootstrapped multiple businesses, including Tailgate Giant and Man Cave Giant, before launching Gameday Hospitality—now managing over 240 events a year across the U.S.

John also opens up about the future of Buffalo’s tailgating scene with the new stadium, the challenges of dealing with entitled customers, and how Buffalo’s blue-collar passion compares to other sports cities. It’s a gritty, detailed, and real conversation on entrepreneurship, sports culture, and scaling experience-driven businesses.

In this episode of Let’s know Buffalo, we talk to Chris Ring, legendary concert promoter, co-owner of Rec Room Buffalo, and founder of After Dark Presents. Chris shares how he built a 25+ year career in music starting with DIY punk shows and roller rink gigs. Hear how he booked Vanilla Ice at 18, flipped college events into a business empire, and became a key figure in Buffalo’s nightlife and hospitality scene.

Now a Kenmore trustee, Chris also discusses how he’s using his voice to drive community growth and advocate for small businesses. This episode is a must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs, music lovers, and anyone who believes in making something from nothing.

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Kevin and Joe sit down with Tony Thomas, the mastermind behind Buffalo’s largest real estate photography company. Tony shares his journey from starting out in photography to building the go-to service for real estate professionals across the city. Tune in as Tony reveals industry insights, the secrets to capturing homes that sell, and how he’s grown his business to dominate the Buffalo market. Whether you're in real estate, photography, or simply love stories of entrepreneurial success, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable advice.

In this episode, we sit down with Jeffrey Gerber, the visionary behind Buffalo's Cleaning Crew. From humble beginnings at McDonald's to becoming a go-to cleaning service in the area, Jeffrey shares the secrets to growing a business in the competitive cleaning industry. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or just curious about what it takes to build a thriving company, this episode is full of insights and inspiration!

We are joined by Dan Hernandez of D-Nice Customs. Dan has an incredible story that took him on a path he never planned on. From falling off a roof in high school, to now owning a successful print shop/custom gifts business, multiple vending machines, and being an AirBnB super host, Dan's story is nothing less than inspiring. He shares his journey as well as insights on what it's like to be in each of the businesses he runs. Thank you Dan for stopping in and giving us a peek into your entrepreneurship journey! Check out D-Nice Customs here: https://www.instagram.com/dnicecustoms

In this episode, we are joined by The Wing King himself, Drew Cerza. Drew is the man behind the Buffalo Wing Festival, the Super Bowl of chicken wings. In this episode, Drew shares how the famous Wing Festival came to be, the challenges he faced, and where you can find the best chicken wings around town. Thank you Drew for stopping in and for sharing your story and your love of chicken wings! Get tickets to this years Wing Fest at buffalowing.com

In this episode we are joined by Ed Samoel. Ed is a true entrepreneur at heart. From selling fake Rolex watches in high school, to owning a Tim Hortons franchise, to owning his own car dealership, Ed is a truly inspiring story. He shares his experience of going from selling cars in an alley in Rochester to owning his own dealership, how he came to be a Tim Hortons franchisee almost accidentally and details on his newest project in Rochester.

In this episode we are joined by Alex Lista, owner of Spooling Up Performance in Buffalo NY. Alex shares the story of how Spooling Up came to be, the challenges the businesses faces as well as how he ensures everyone lives up to their values as a business. Spooling Up Performance is inspiring car enthusiasts to express themselves through cars. From small parts sales / installs to full scale builds they will be equally as grateful to be a part of your journey with your vehicle. For a lot of us cars & trucks are our way of escaping reality or having a way to escape the stresses of everyday life. Nothing like going for a drive to clear your head. Spooling Up fully understand and want to take the added stress away of picking out the perfect parts or having to figure out how you will install them on your vehicle.